Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health his plans to cut funding for Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, Dublin, over the next twelve months; the cuts that he envisages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39053/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The funding pressures now being experienced in the health services mean that the acute sector must reduce its costs in order to deliver the agreed level of activity within the resources available to it. This means that we must concentrate on maximising efficiency and getting the best possible services for patients from the budgets available to us. However, this on its own is not sufficient. Activity levels in our acute hospitals have been running ahead of the levels set in the approved HSE Service Plan and therefore it is inevitable that activity levels must also be reduced. This will be a significant challenge, and in meeting it we must be flexible and responsive to service needs, in order to ensure that essential services are protected and that patient safety and quality remain paramount. In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.